Florida officials announced this week that they plan to eliminate every vaccine requirement currently in state law, a step that would set the state apart from the rest of the country. The announcement came during a press conference at Grace Christian School in Valrico, where Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo stood with Governor Ron DeSantis to outline the proposal.
Ladapo, who has long questioned the value of vaccines, said his department would work with the governor’s office and state lawmakers to remove the mandates. He described the rules as oppressive and argued that families, not the government, should decide whether children are immunized.
Current Landscape
At present, Florida—like every other U.S. state and the District of Columbia—requires students to receive a range of shots before they can attend public school. These include protection against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Families may request exemptions for religious reasons, but otherwise compliance is required.
If the plan proceeds, Florida would be the first state in modern times to abandon those requirements entirely. The move comes after years of debate during the COVID-19 pandemic over whether public health directives infringe on individual freedom.
Support from State Leaders
Governor DeSantis, who has consistently criticized federal pandemic measures, said some mandates could be removed through administrative action, while others will need approval from the Republican-controlled legislature. “People are going to have to choose a side,” Ladapo said, predicting that lawmakers would ultimately back his position.
Prominent figures within the vaccine-skeptic movement quickly applauded the announcement. Physician Robert Malone, a well-known critic of mRNA technology, posted support on social media and called Ladapo committed to “changing the system.”
Criticism from Medical Experts
The plan has been sharply opposed by physicians, researchers, and educators. The American Medical Association warned that repealing vaccine requirements would undo decades of progress in preventing disease. In a statement, the group said removing the mandates would place communities at increased risk for outbreaks of measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox.
Dr. Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a former acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), described the idea of unvaccinated children attending school as deeply troubling. He argued that vaccines protect not only the individual child but also classmates who may be medically vulnerable.
Florida state representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, called the proposal “a public health disaster in the making.” The Florida Education Association, which represents more than 120,000 teachers and school staff, also condemned the move, warning it would increase absenteeism and make schools less safe.
Vaccines and Their Impact
Researchers broadly agree that vaccines are among the most effective tools in modern medicine. Studies by global health organizations estimate that immunization programs have saved hundreds of millions of lives worldwide over the past five decades, particularly among infants. In the United States, federal data show that childhood immunizations have prevented millions of cases of illness and saved the health care system hundreds of billions of dollars.
Experts caution that undoing school requirements would likely reduce vaccination rates. John Moore, a professor of microbiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, predicted that Florida could see a rise in preventable diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria if mandates are removed. He added that rubella infections pose a particular danger to pregnant women.
Diverging State Policies
While Florida moves to repeal mandates, other states are working in the opposite direction. The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington recently formed the West Coast Health Alliance, pledging to coordinate their vaccination policies and provide consistent recommendations to residents. The coalition said it was responding to what it views as inconsistent federal guidance and declining trust in national agencies.
Observers expect the result could be a patchwork system, with some states enforcing strong vaccination rules and others leaving the decision entirely to families. Dorit Reiss, a law professor at the University of California who studies vaccine law, warned that Florida’s decision could create an “experiment” in which children bear the consequences.
Political Dimensions
The announcement also highlights Florida’s political climate. Ladapo, appointed by DeSantis in 2021, has been a controversial figure throughout his tenure, especially for his resistance to COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. Critics accused him of manipulating data in a 2022 analysis to exaggerate risks linked to mRNA vaccines.
Former congressman David Jolly, now running for governor as a Democrat, said on social media that if elected he would remove Ladapo from his post. Other candidates, including Republicans Byron Donalds and Paul Renner, may also weigh in as the 2026 race approaches.
What Comes Next
No timeline has been set for repealing the mandates, and some changes would require action by the state legislature. For now, Florida’s current vaccination requirements remain in place. Still, the announcement has already sparked intense debate within the state and across the country.
As Florida pursues this course, public health experts say the outcome could influence policy well beyond its borders, shaping the future of school vaccination programs in the United States.
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